"This book is filled to the brim with important information on native plants and is a must for any serious gardener in the southeastern region of the country."--Ginny Stibolt, author of Sustainable Gardening for Florida

"Here is an authoritative, fact-filled guide for growing southeastern native plants from the author who wrote the field guides for identifying our native plants. His experience and knowledge will help us all become better native plant gardeners."--Steven P. Christman, editor, Floridata.com

Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens highlights and illustrates several hundred readily available and easy-to-grow native species for gardeners and landscapers living in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

These native plants include shrubs, small and large trees, and a collection of perennials, all of which have proven to be extremely successful landscape plants in the southeastern United States. The average homeowner will be able to find many of these species in local retail nurseries whether or not these nurseries specialize in native plants.

Gil Nelson has created an indispensable, authoritative publication that describes and recommends high-performing native plants, tells readers how to avoid the use of invasive species in their gardens, and highlights the design of several specialty and wildlife gardens. With the help of regional experts, the included species have been selected based on field visits to retail and wholesale nurseries, private and public gardens and arboreta, personal knowledge and experience, and discussions with landscape and gardening enthusiasts, professionals, and experts throughout the region. The inclusion of more than 600 color photos makes this an easy-to-use, valuable addition to any gardener's library.

Gil Nelson is a writer, naturalist, and field botanist specializing in the southeastern United States. He is the author of a dozen successful gardening and botanical field guides including Florida's Best Native Landscape Plants.

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"Enough information and detail for professional landscapers and native ecosystem restorers, but it's an easy-enough read for the more casual gardener as well. Just the information a gardener needs to make good decisions in choosing plants: not every native is a good choice for your garden."
--The Florida Native Plant Society

"An elegantly written and intelligently formatted guide replete with historical glimpses of native plant gardening, helpful lists and references and excellent profiles."
--Ledger (Lakeland, FL)

"A straightforward and engaging writer, Nelson traces his interest in gardening back t hours spent in his grandmother's yard. Aiming his book at gardeners, homeowners, and landscape/nursery professionals, Nelson insists that gardeners interested in native plants that are readily available, dependable, and easy to care for can choose many creative approaches to using them." "Nelson's enthusiasm for his subject and his ability to provide technical information in a clear, understandable way make this book must purchase for public and academic libraries in the Southeast and large libraries elsewhere."
--American Reference Books Annual, vol.42

"A highly-useful guide by a well-known authority in the field."
--On The Bookshelf